Shanghai Bobby Injured

oh dear - let the pletcher bashing begin! i don't know how something like that happens but don't think it's training - current horses at 3 are just too "frail" to try for a TC

Ben's Cat also had a stress fracture - at 2. He came back as a 4 yr old and this year is 1-1 as a 7 year old. I don't think 90 days is enough time and I hope they do the right thing for the horse. Starlight CAN afford to do the right thing.

Ben's Cat
Best Racing Class Achieved:
Multiple Graded Stakes Winner

Top 100 Rankings (Since 2000):
Ranked 63rd by Earnings - 2012
Ranked 55th by Earnings - 2011
Ranked 64th by Wins - 2011
Ranked 13th by Wins - 2010


Connections as of last Start:
Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Trainer: King T. Leatherbury
Owner: The Jim Stable
Breeder: K. T. Leatherbury Assoc. Inc.

Career Statistics:
•Starts: 30
•Firsts: 20
•Seconds: 3
•Thirds: 1
•Earnings: $1,402,290

Four-peat for Ben’s Cat in Mister Diz Stakes
4/9/13

It’s a rare feat for a horse to win a stakes race four years in a row. Ben’s Cat placed himself among the elite by taking the Mister Diz Stakes for the fourth time on Saturday, April 6 at Pimlico.

Facing five other Maryland-breds in the five-furlong turf stakes worth $75,000, the King Leatherbury-homebred galloped home by an easy one and three-quarters lengths after surging to the lead in midstretch. His final time was a solid :57.74 while hand-ridden to the wire by Julian Pimentel. The victory pushed his record to 20 wins from 30 starts (15 stakes wins) for earnings of $1,402,290.

From 4/9/13


“Four years in a row, that’s quite rare,” said Leatherbury, who owns, trains and bred Ben’s Cat. “He is amazing.” Sent to post at odds of 2-5, Ben’s Cat broke with the leaders, patiently sat off a two-horse duel, moved up and swept by without urging and spurted away. The Parker’s Storm Cat 7-year old paid $2.80 and topped a $6.80 exacta with Night Officer, who rallied up the rail to take second over Disco Elvis. Completing the order of finish were Heros Reward, Steady Warrior and Gottalovethedrake.

“He’s a remarkable horse,” said Pimentel. “We had a great trip. Those two horses went at it and I sat behind them. When it was time, I asked him and he took off.”

“This is our beginning race for this season which we’ve kicked it off the last few years so we’re going to follow the same format,” added Leatherbury, who ranks fourth on the all-time win list with 6,375 victories.

The 80-year-old credits Ben’s Cat with revitalizing his career.

“He brought me back to life,” said Leatherbury, who has 18 victories this year, just seven fewer than all of 2012. “They were about ready to plant me but we have come back to life by investing some of his earnings into the claiming game.” Leatherbury indicated he expects Ben’s Cat to run in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint on Black-Eyed Susan day, May 17, a race he won in 2011 but finished an uncharacteristic fifth in 2012.

marylandthoroughbred.com/newsindex.php?articleid=1467

RG - I hope Ben's Cat gets to the BC this year and shows everyone how good he is. Leatherbury too!

I also don't think 90 days is enough time. IF he races again, I hope they don't rush him.